Patrick McEnroe spoke about which American player is the most underrated on the ATP Tour. The former Laver Cup co-captain noted that while several of his compatriots are recognised as great players, not many truly seem to be Grand Slam contenders.
Currently, American players have seven representatives in the top 33 and up to 11 in the top 100. While some young talents are making their way—Learner Tien (19 years old, No. 64), Nishesh Basavareddy (19 years old, No. 99), and Alex Michelsen (20 years old, No. 33)—others are already well-established, with five players consistently ranking in the top 25 over the past few seasons.
As of today, the highest-ranked Americans are Taylor Fritz (No. 4), Tommy Paul (No. 11), Ben Shelton (No. 13), Frances Tiafoe (No. 17), and Sebastian Korda (No. 24). With a strong American presence, it has become common to see at least one player making a deep run in major tournaments. In fact, as of the Round of 16 at Indian Wells, five home players are still in the competition.
Patrick McEnroe, the brother of seven-time Grand Slam champion John McEnroe, has worked closely with several top American players, even coaching them in past Laver Cups. According to the former French Open doubles champion, the most underrated American player is 27-year-old Tommy Paul, whom he sees as a genuine contender in majors. Paul recently broke into the top 10 for the first time in his career.
Tommy Paul is now ranked as world No. 11
"Tommy Paul is probably underrated as an athlete and is probably the most pure tennis player of the current group. All of them are contenders, but none of them, in my opinion, are favourites to win a major," he told Tennis 365.
McEnroe also mentioned Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca as a potential Grand Slam contender in the near future. "I would throw Joao Fonseca into the mix as someone who may also be contending for majors in the next few years," he added. "It won’t be easy, but it’s great to see the Americans performing so well in the rankings."
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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